Autumn Dawn (#2.5, Witchling Saga)

by Lizzy Ford

“Your first challenge will be getting you both through school.”

  Assuming he wants anything to do with me, and I can live with what he’s done. Summer wasn’t able to shake the fear that Decker might not want her or that he was going to be disappointed to have her instead of the blonde girl she’d been just hours before. He had slept with so many girls. Was she even of interest to him?

  “Do you have any family at all?” he asked.

  “My mother had a surviving aunt, but the orphanage wasn’t able to find her. That was thirteen years ago, though,” Summer said thoughtfully.

  “Witchling magick is normally hereditary. If she’s ever been part of the community, we should be able to find some trace of her. It would be better for you to have an appointed guardian, until you’re eighteen.”

  “My birthday is nine months away. Do you think it’s necessary?” she asked.

  “I think it’s smart. Dawn is finishing out the year at school, and you’ll likely remain a target, along with Beck.”

  “So I could possibly be sent away,” she said. “I don’t want that. But I won’t screw up again, if it happens. I’ll do what I have to then come back.” To Decker.

  “I know,” he said. “We don’t want it to come to that. From what my legal team says, your great-aunt taking guardianship would be a much simpler fix with the courts than Rania and I taking you. We could do it, and will do so gladly, if this is our best option.”

  “You would do that?” she asked, surprised.

  “Of course.”

  Summer’s brow furrowed. “You’ve done so much already.”

  “You saved the life of both our sons, even brought one back from the Darkness,” Michael pointed out. “You’ve earned a place in the family and a blank check from me, as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Wow.” Rania had said something similar about her being a member of the family. Awed by the thought of having one after so long alone, Summer also experienced a tremor of fear. What if she wasn’t able to be with Decker for whatever reason? It would be more than awkward, if his parents got caught between them. They all were certain Decker wouldn’t reject her; she wasn’t going to feel comfortable until she saw the troubled Master of Dark.

  “Whatever we do has to be set in motion fairly quickly,” Michael continued. “In the meantime, you’ve got to stay focused on school and somehow wrangle Decker at the same time. Beck must stay on campus to address a couple of issues concerning Light. Decker can’t without disrupting things.”

  “You’re worried he’ll drop out of school to stay near me, assuming he wants anything to do with me,” she said.

  “No need to assume,” Michael said with confidence she admired. “And yes, that’s the concern. It’s a lot to put on you, but, well…” he hesitated before continuing “… you’re about to learn what it means to be the counterbalance to someone like him. It’s not easy.”

  “It must be worth it. You and Grandpa Louis are happy,” she observed.

  “I have no regrets. It can get scary sometimes, being married to someone possessed by Darkness. Some days you have to be strong enough to deal with the Darkness yourself, a lesson you’ve already learned.”

  She shuddered at the memory of looking into Decker’s eyes and seeing that… creature looking back at her.

  “Life will never be boring,” Michael added. “If you ever need help with that aspect or any other, I’m always a text away. Which reminds me” he said, leaning to open the glove box “we got you a phone.” He retrieved it along with a leather wallet and handed them to her.

  Summer accepted them, attention on the smart phone. After playing with the iPad the school assigned her, she knew how to unlock the phone and navigate through the applications. She had text messages already waiting for her, all from Beck. A smile tugged her lips upward.

  “Beck was playing with it. He should’ve put all our contact information in there.”

  She smiled as she went through the texts. Beck sent her two pictures of Biji and one of Decker then a note that read, Welcome to our dysfunctional family. She returned to the picture of Decker, her heart quickening at the image.

  “Credit card in the wallet. Anything you want or need, just charge it.”

  “Really?” She slid the card free from the sleek wallet. It even had her name on it.

  “Something tells me you’ll be better than my boys about what you charge. Beck bought a horse with his once. No idea what he was thinking, but he was only fifteen. I guess it made sense to him. He was stunned we found out.”

  Summer laughed. She had no trouble imagining the upbeat Beck buying a horse on a whim or for a girl he was trying to impress.

  “Decker used to launder money with his. He made a lot of big purchases, but had nothing to show for them. I guess he was working with someone else to fake purchases and cash out. He was saving for his first motorcycle,” Michael said. “He was fourteen when we caught him, and he’d been doing it for two years. Can you imagine a twelve-year-old figuring that out?”

  “I promise not to do those things,” she said, grinning. She was no less surprised that Decker’s devious nature started before he went Dark than she was to hear about learning Beck thought he could buy a horse without anyone noticing.

  “I trust you. We want to make sure you’re taken care of this time around.”

  “Thank you,” she replied with heartfelt emotion.

  “Our pleasure.”

  She smiled, touched by the generosity of the twin’s family.

  The snowstorm didn’t start until they reached the tiny town of Priest Lake. The butterflies in Summer’s stomach began fluttering as the town became visible around a curve. The moment she feared and yearned for was about to be there. They drove past the abandoned elementary school, where the lumbering Greyhound was dropping off new witchlings.

  “Can you do me a favor?” Michael asked, glancing towards the bus. “Text Beck and have him pick up the new kids.”

  “Sure,” she said. Summer fumbled with the iPhone before she figured out how to text. She typed a note to Beck.

  “I didn’t realize we were expecting new students. Since Beck became the Master of Light, he’s been able to find those like you that we might’ve missed otherwise,” Michael said. “It’ll be good for the school.”

  “He can sense them?” she asked after sending the text.

  “It’s one of the skills his position gave him.”

  “Are there a lot of kids like me?”

  “More than we expected,” Michael said with a sigh. “Witchling magick isn’t always directly inherited. Sometimes it’s dormant for a few generations. He’s finding them, though, which is great.”

  Summer half-listened. Her nervousness grew as they drove past the long driveways leading to hidden houses, followed by the gas station. A familiar fork in the road made her clench the phone in her hands. The phone vibrated, jarring her.

  OMG! You’re almost here! Beck texted. Tell Dad okay. TTYL.

  “He said okay,” she conveyed the message.

  The driveway to the school came and went. Summer was almost breathless, as if she’d been running. By the time they pulled into the garage at the cabin, she was ready to jump out of her skin.

  She got out of the car as calmly as possible, her attention caught by the auburn form near the wood line.

  “Go on. I’ll leave the garage door open,” Michael said. He waved at Sam, who waved back.

  Summer tucked the phone into her jeans and left the garage, her step cautious. When certain her boots would grip the loose snow, she sprinted to the awaiting yeti, exhilarated that she was able to run. She flung her arms around him. He grunted, his warm earth magick drifting into her.

  “I’m so happy to see you, Sam!” she cried.

  I am glad to see you, too, he said into her mind. Aloud, he gave one of his chortle-laughs. It has been a very long few months.

  “I know. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you did.”

  I hope you are not a
ngry with me, my child. I have lived every day in regret, knowing what had to be done. His sadness was carried to her through magick and tugged at her emotions.

  “I’m still a little… I don’t know,” she admitted. “Scared. Confused. But I know without you, I wouldn’t be here now.” She withdrew from his furry body. “The elements talked to me, Sam. Like really talked. They showed me everything.”

  They have always been fond of you. Did the earth tell you it rescued Tarzan?

  “Yes,” she said, eyes blurring with tears. “I am so sorry for the pain I caused him and you.”

  You have nothing to be sorry for. I have been around since the last time the Darkness was free. You did what no one else ever has. I am proud of you, Summer.

  “I can do this,” she said. “I can be strong.”

  You are strong, Sam assured her. Your trial was the hardest I’ve seen. Do you not feel how strong you are?

  “Sort of. I’m scared, Sam.”

  Fear set you on this course. You learned to conquer it. It won’t control you again.

  “I realized that, too,” she said. She wiped her eyes.

  Summer’s warmth and Autumn’s transformation. You have the beauty and courage of both.

  “Thank you, Sam. I hope it’s enough.”

  Your journey with him is just beginning.

  “You came all the way here to talk to the yeti.” Decker’s low voice was almost a growl.

  Summer’s heart leapt at the sound. For a moment, she wasn’t able to breathe or move. Sam gave one of his horrifying grins and touched her arm, the earth magick reviving her senses.

  I must go.

  “Thank you,” she said again.

  Summer took a deep breath before turning to face Decker. The Master of Dark wore all black and stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets. His mussed hair gave him a rakish appearance. His head was slightly lowered, his guarded eyes and low brow increasing the intensity of his assessing look. Tall and athletic, Decker’s sweater was snug enough to outline the muscular arms, sloping shoulders and lean abdomen of a swimmer.

  She was at once ensnared by the combination of his direct gaze, chiseled features and the subtle allure of the Dark magick he wore like a cloak. The sight of him made her heart slam into her chest and her pulse fly. She remembered interacting with him through the eyes of both Summer and Autumn. He’d been so different towards each girl, gentle and open with the one who held his heart and trying to seduce – then push away – the other. Which was he now?

  Snow avoided direct contact with him to form small piles around his feet, as if the innocent white flakes wanted nothing to do with the Dark Master. Summer’s insides felt as if they were shaking. He was never one for small talk, and she didn’t know how to interpret his watchful stance and coarse greeting. His magick prodded her. The cool shadows melted into fire that fed her emotions and the burning in her blood as they moved through her body. She ached to touch him.

  At her extended silence, he shifted. The shadows adjusted around him, mirroring his restlessness. His movement broke the spell, and she became aware of a new instinct, one she didn’t remember noticing before. The sense was carried to her through her elements, the temperamental yet intuitive air magick and protective earth magick. They assessed Decker and reported what they found.

  It seemed that her strong, brooding, and often terrifying Decker was as uncertain and scared as she was--perhaps even more so.

  “Do I take the garage door being open as a sign you’re not here to stay?” he asked.

  “Hello, to you, too, Decker,” she answered.

  “You’re killing me.”

  Summer laughed. She didn’t know where the joyful sound came from, and Decker didn’t seem to know how to take it. He rubbed the back of his head and dropped the hand to his side, waiting with impatience that made her want to smile. She quelled her amusement, though, sensing the rawness of the emotions contained beneath his calm façade.

  He didn’t reject her. From what the elements were telling her, he wasn’t about to. Still, she wasn’t able to determine what he felt, if he cared for her as he had before. How much should the awful things he’d done matter to her? Michael’s assertion about her ability to determine the pace of their relationship returned to her. She didn’t know if Decker’s parents warned him about pushing her into anything or if it was natural for Dark Masters and Mistresses to shy away from their partners.

  Seeing him again, she was certain of one thing: whatever he had done, she still loved him.

  “Whether you stay or go, I want you to know I never meant to hurt you,” he said in a hushed voice.

  “I know, Decker,” she replied.

  “Beck had the earth show me what you went through as Autumn, how much pain you were in. I hurt the only thing in my life that matters.” His emotion was barely restrained.

  Her face grew warm. Decker nervously fumbled with the amulet at his neck. The faint glimmer of pink caught her attention, and she focused on it, recognizing the ring dwarfed by the amulet. It was the promise ring he gave her, the night she went Dark. He had kept it all this time.

  Before she could speak, he continued.

  “I’ll never forgive myself. I can’t. The things I’ve done…” he drifted off. “You don’t want to know. I mean you know some of them, but there’s a lot more.”

  “I do know,” she said. “The drugs, hurting Witchlings.” She crossed her arms, at a loss what to think of those things and momentarily overwhelmed by the memories the earth had shown her about Decker. “Trying to surrender to the Darkness. All the girls.” The last issue brought back her doubt.

  Decker looked away. Red crept up his neck and into his face.

  “I won’t ask you to stay or forgive me or anything,” he mumbled. “I don’t know if it’s possible, but I hope that you find some way not to hate me someday. I hate myself enough for both of us.”

  “I don’t hate you, Decker,” she said.

  “I can’t believe that. What I’ve done is too much for anyone to accept.”

  “Decker, those girls… I mean, you slept with all of them.”

  “I know.” He was quiet for a moment, struggling. “It was one of the ways I tried to take the edge off. I was trying to forget you. I thought if I could replace that weekend we had together with someone else. Or a lot of them and drugs.”

  “You didn’t want to remember me?” she whispered, wounded. He thought her dead, true, but it still hurt to think he’d tried to get rid of what they had.

  Decker paced for a moment and ran his fingers through his hair again.

  “Did you love any of them?” she asked.

  “No, of course not.” He threw his head back and sighed. “I didn’t even know most of their names, Summer. I wanted to remember you. I wanted to forget you. I don’t know what I wanted, except that I couldn’t live with knowing I had something so beautiful, so perfect and suddenly, you were gone.” The torment was clear in his gaze.

  He moved towards her. Uncertain what to think, Summer took a step back. He stopped. She hugged herself, wanting to understand yet appalled as well. The look on Decker’s face crushed her.

  “I’m so sorry for what I did. If I had known you were alive, I never would’ve done those things. I swear it.” His raw emotion made tears form in her eyes.

  “It wasn’t right,” she said. “It wasn’t fair to them, Decker. It wasn’t fair to the witchlings you hurt, either.”

  “You are so much stronger than me, Summer,” he said. “I would never, ever cheat on you, not in a million years, and I already promised Beck that I’d never take another innocent life. I thought you were dead, and I…I lost it. I wanted to feel what I felt with you that weekend, but I hated the idea of betraying you. I tried to numb the pain.”

  “I’m so sorry you hurt,” she said, recalling the pain she sensed in him.

  “It doesn’t make what I did right. I should’ve been stronger. There is no part of me that thinks you want anything to do with
me anymore,” he said in a voice that shook. “But I swear, I won’t do it again. I’ll be alone the rest of my life, and I’ll manage, as long as I know you’re safe. I have to be strong in every way, or the Darkness will pounce. I have to fight it. I can’t be weak anymore.”

  His regret and resolve were visible in his features. Summer studied him, wanting to believe yet afraid to take the chance. Afraid not to take the chance.

  “I’m so happy you’re alive and okay, Summer. Just knowing that is enough to help me fight the Darkness.” A flare of anger lit his gaze. “I’m strong enough now. You gave me a second chance. I’m not going to waste it. I’ll protect you this time, you and Beck and everyone else I love. I swear it.”

  Summer’s breath caught. He was right. She, too, had made a horrible mistake when she broke Light and Dark Laws. They were both given second chances, and they emerged stronger and wiser. She never stopped believing in him or loving him. After all they’d been through, she was grateful to hear that he still loved her as well.

  “I’ll tell Dad to take you back to the dorms,” he said, turning and walking towards the garage.

  He was several steps away before she regained herself. She wracked her brain for something to say to stop him. Her senses were scattered by seeing him again and her emotions bubbling. The things he’d done swirled within her, making her want to relieve his pain yet also feeding her fear.

  She came too far to walk away from him now.

  “You have my ring,” she called.

  Decker froze. Summer approached him nervously. She circled him as she had once before, the night of the dance, where they’d first kissed. She stood in front of him, close enough to feel his body heat and cool shadows. Terrified of losing him, she nonetheless wasn’t able to live with herself, if she didn’t stop him from walking away.

  “You made me a promise,” she whispered, gazing up at him.

  “You can’t possibly want me after all I’ve done.” He was pale beneath his caramel skin.

  “Do you think I went through all of that not to have a second chance with you, too?” she asked softly.

  His dark eyes searched her face. He hesitated then touched her, wiping away a tear. He shuddered visibly at the contact, and his warm-cool shadows soared through her.